Local Aircraft Crashes during World War 2

An Epsom resident was working on the history of his wartime Squadron (78th RAF Squadron) and asked the Epsom and Ewell Local and Family History Centre if they had any details of a war time plane crash near 30 Acres Barn just over the borough boundary Ashtead. This request has lead a team of history centre volunteers to start researching local wartime plane crashes. Remarkably they have found firm evidence for 15 crashes, of which 9 occurred during the Battle of Britain period (10 July to 31 October 1940), and reports of a further one on Epsom Downs, which is proving difficult to verify.

Reports on two of these crashes and two of the pilots (see links below) have kindly been made available to this web site by Bert Barnhurst of Epsom & Ewell Local & Family History Centre(Opens in a new window). If you have any thing you can add to these reports or supply informaion on the other crashes please contact Bert at the History Centre.

AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN THIS AREADURING BATTLE OF BRITAIN : 10 JULY - 31 OCTOBER 1940

* These three entries illustrate how uncertain the fate of airmen could be. Sgt. Frantisek accounted for 17 German aircraft during the Battle of Britain.

** The precise site of this crash has been called into question. Operational Records say, ..reported to be near to Wallington. Battle of Britain, Then and Now says, 'The Oaks' Coulsdon as quoted here. It has also been suggested that it might be 'Oaks Park' Woodmansterne. Or, Leaves Green near Biggin Hill. N.B. The truth may never be known.

Flight of Hampdens of 44 SquadronImage source The Hampden File by Harry Moyle

Hampden AD913 KM-K of 44 Squadron was airborne from Waddington at 20.45 on 2/9/1941, crewed by Sgts Knight (pilot),Spanner, J Stephens (sic) and Churchill, destined for Frankfurt. Over the target-area the port engine failed (hit by flak?) and the aircraft struggled to return to base. It was abandoned over Dorking at 02.45 on 3/9/1941 and all but Sgt Stevens reached the ground safely. Stevens, W/Op & Air Gunner, who may have been killed earlier failed to leave the plane and his body was found close to the wreckage. See 'Short after midnight' - http://www.geiger-roland.de. Aircraft written off.

Some time ago, we recorded details of a crashed aircraft on Headley Heath which came down on the night of 2/3 September 1941 when unfortunately a Handley Page Hampden of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron crashed. The pilot, Sgt. Knight's port engine cut out over the target and he returned on the remaining engine which failed him whilst over Dorking. The aircraft was abandoned and all the crew reached the ground safely except Sgt. Stevens who was killed. The aircraft itself was reported as coming down near Headley Court and was burnt out.

Recently we have been receiving reports and enquiries that the aircraft was not a Hampden but in fact was a Vickers Wellington. Further enquiries established that a Wellington of 150 Squadron did crash on the same night, 2/3 September 1941 but W. R. Chorley's book states the crash as being near Kenley which is about seven or eight miles from Headley as the crow or indeed the Wellington flies!

Two gentlemen, a Mr John Arthur together with another gentleman who still lives in the Headley area, and who were youngsters at the time, separately claim categorically that a Wellington did come down on the heath on the night in question. Both of them independently stated the location of the crash site to within ten yards of each other, in the area which is now the National Trust Car Park.

"The Wellington ended its skid across Headley Heath next to the occult beacon which was on a fixed position for most of the war. I believe the Hampden crashed at Tyrrells Wood, not far from Headley Court."

Sketch map showing location of this air crashClick Image to enlargeMap courtesy of the gentleman from Headley.

This was too much of a coincidence not to be pursued further. Chorley only states the pilot's name, Sgt. Dickenson, but none of the crew. On checking the operational records of 150 Squadron regrettably they only recorded the pilot's name and did not include the crew. As the pilot, Dickenson, is stated in operational records as flying again some two weeks later - ironically to the same target as caused their downfall - it clearly indicates a crash landing from which the entire crew walked away. As the Canadian website, www.lornesmuseum.ca states that a Canadian unit guarded a wrecked aircraft on Headley Heath for eleven days, the circumstances would seem to be confirmed.

The Canadian website clearly states that two Wellington bombers crashed on return flights from Europe. One crashed in flames a few hundred yards from their corps HQ and was burnt out. The other made a crash landing on Headley Heath, the crew were uninjured and the plane remained intact but a long dismantling process was necessary with the result that the guard posted over it by the unit had to remain for 11 days. The circumstances would seem to indicate that the burnt out aircraft must have been the Hampden as one burnt-out twin engined aircraft could look much the same as another.

It is always good to receive eyewitness reports to help verify circumstances which can become confused over the passage of time and we are obliged to the two gentlemen who helped to clarify the facts of this particular crash.

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